Wishful Slacker

Hallelujah Meatloaf!

My husband is out this evening at a work function and keeping that in mind, I had a late afternoon snack so that I could come home and get in a good workout.  I've realized that I exercise best when my husband is not home.  I don't mean that he is not supportive of me taking the time to work out.  That is not the case at all.  Rather, the main issue we have is the small space of our apartment.  One always feels self conscious exercising to an aerobics DVD in the presence of someone else.  When Jim is home, I need to lock him in our bedroom in order to bust out my dumbbells in the living room.  At my past job I was able to beat him home from work and use my Fanny Lifter in privacy.  But now we're usually getting home at the same time.  Therefore- the later I work, the flabbier my arms (and other areas) become.

So, I exercised (yay me!), and then was faced with the dinner/nourishment dilemma.  While staring into the fridge, I made an amazing discovery- one leftover meatloaf patty from the batch I made over the weekend.  Do you know what it's like to be in the process of settling on a cereal dinner and to all of a sudden come across MEATLOAF??!!  And not just any meatloaf- this is the yummiest meatloaf of all (granted, people are very particular about their meatloaf.  So if you have your own favorite meatloaf recipe, please understand that I am not putting yours down with that statement).  I made this meatloaf for my sister-in-law over the weekend, and for my mother-in-law a couple weeks ago.  They may start to think that this is the only dish I ever make :-)    

It is no mistake that I made these the weekend before AND after being on call.  This is a meal that makes me happy.  It is not cooked in a loaf but rather in hamburger-sized patties, making it really easy to double the recipe.  The leftovers are great and I eat them cold for lunch as a meatloaf sandwich with a hamburger bun.  Sadly, I can't cite from whom this recipe originated.  I believe my parents got it from a Taste of Home magazine YEARS ago.  So whoever submitted it then, bless you.

Here it is- Hallelujah meatloaf!

Ingredients

1 egg
 3/4 c. milk
 1 c. shredded cheddar cheese
 1/2 c. quick cooking oats
 1/4 c. chopped onion
 1 tsp salt
 1 lb. lean ground beef
 2/3 c. ketchup
 1/2 c. packed brown sugar
 1 1/2 tsp. prepared mustard

Makes 8 servings.

Preheat oven to 350º F.  Spray a cookie sheet with oil or non-stick spray.

In a bowl, beat egg and milk.  Pour in cheese, oats, onion, and salt.  Throw in beef.  Form into ovals and put on the cookie sheet.

Combine ketchup, brown sugar, and mustard in a small bowl.  Using spoon, scoop mixture over loaves.  Put in the oven for 50-55 minutes.  When the patties come out of the oven, sprinkle the tops with shredded cheese (that part may be a Walker addition).

___

By the way, after removing the patties, you will want to cry when you see how messy your cookie sheet is.  Do not panic.  Just put some water in it and let it soak overnight and the next day it will easily wipe clean.

ENJOY!  

:-P

___

  

Oh my achin' dogs

Recently I encountered a sad fact- my body is no longer the spritely being it once was.  Now, I know by saying this, many of you are thinking, "what in the heck is she talking about?  She's still in her twenties!  Silly girl!"  But please let me explain.  Growing up I was always in some type of a dance class or another and competed in highland dancing in my teens.  It was great fun, and still to this day I spontaneously go into some highland step while stirring risotto on the stove or brushing my teeth (my husband's gotten used to the sudden thumping from the next room, and I'm sure our downstairs neighbors love it).  Back in March of this year, I started taking lessons at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Irish dance, a new style of dance for me that is similar to Highland in some respects but also very different (and at least my arms get a break).  New steps!  New dance shoes! 

Well, at dance 3 weeks ago, I pulled a muscle.  Badly.  It wasn't too sore afterward, but a few days later I irked it further by whatever goofy way I got up off the couch (typical) and OWIE it hurt like crazy!  I tried jumping on it and just couldn't, and as a result had to miss 2 weeks worth of classes (which I paid for in advance, so it's painful in more than one way).  Anyways, my realization is that I probably should no longer be doing random highcuts without stretching first.  I am slowly becoming the tin man, and need extra oiling.